Social media video sparks investigation
By Allyson Dix, Managing Editor/Barren County Progress
A screenshot of a video that was publicly posted on Facebook shows an employee, at right, watching as students are engaged in pinning a student to the floor and striking him.
Update 5/2/25 at 12:40 p.m.
The employee in the video has been arrested and lodged in the Hart County Jail. Terrence Miles is charged with first-degree criminal abuse, second-degree wanton endangerment, and first-degree official misconduct. Horse Cave Police Department is the arresting agency. As of 8:30 a.m., the jail website lists no bond and a 5/5/25 court date.
Update 5/2/25 at 9:45 a.m.
Superintendent Amanda Abell provided the following update and a copy of Miles’ resignation:
This is an update on the status of the school district’s investigation of the incident being shared on social media. Following a thorough review and interviews with all witnesses involved, I met with the teacher this morning to terminate his employment. At the start of the meeting, the teacher submitted his resignation. A copy of his statement is attached. Both students involved in the incident have also been disciplined in accordance with school policy.
We sincerely regret that this incident occurred and are committed to ensuring student safety remains our highest priority.
Update 4/30/25 at 7:00 p.m.
The Barren County Progress has confirmed this incident is being investigated by the school, local law enforcement, and the Department for Community Based Services.
Original Story:
The superintendent of Caverna Independent Schools has confirmed one employee has been suspended and an investigation is underway after a video surfaced online showing a student being hit with an object while pinned down.
The Barren County Progress obtained the video on April 30 and subsequently called Caverna Superintendent Amanda Abell.
“I became aware of the incident yesterday (April 29) and took immediate action,” Abell said, adding she’s limited on what she can say at this time due to the pending investigation.
“We are investigating the situation to determine what actually occurred,” Abell said. “Student safety is always our highest priority, but this does potentially involve students and an employee, and that’s all I can comment at this time.”
Abell confirmed the employee involved has been placed on suspension pending the conclusion of the investigation.
The video shows a student lying on his back with his legs being held in the air by another student. The employee then removes what appears to be a belt from the pinned student’s waist before handing the belt to a third student. The third student proceeds to whip the student pinned down with the object, who is attempting to get loose from being held down. The employee watches as this takes place, and at times, laughs.
Head basketball coach Terrence Miles is the employee identified in the video. In a phone call, Miles declined to comment on the video at this time.
At this time, the Barren County Progress is seeking information on the video to trace down its validity. Publisher Jeff Jobe said, “The community has a right to know because it clearly happened inside a public school.”
Comments on the original post were mixed, with many saying it was “horseplay” between young students, while others disagreed. In light of the recent loss of a Caverna student due to online sextortion, some comments shared concern for the student appearing to be attacked.
If anyone has any information, please message us on Facebook, and the Progress will attempt to find answers for the community.
This article has been edited for a spelling error in a name.
A screenshot of a video that was publicly posted on Facebook shows an employee, at right, removing what appears to be a belt while a student is pinning another student to the floor.
A copy of Terrance Miles’ resignation submitted May 2, 2025.
Horseplay should never be allowed what happened to overall respect for each other
Just seeing this one clip is upsetting
Horseplay my ass. This is racist as hell.
Horseplay my ass. This is racist as hell.
Y’all are literally taking this too serious it was literally a joke mr.miles is a good person and y’all are treating him like he a bad person I’m tired of this school if anything the whole school needs to be investigation there a lot of stuff y’all don’t know that goes on in that school that is 10x worse then this all y’all need to grow up and let students have fun bc obviously this was a joke and y’all put a good person in jail and im pretty sure if it was a white person it would be ok crazy how this system works
Boys holding him down and coach needs be punish big time I don’t have children in school but if I did and this happen lord have mercy on school problem the white boy will be afraid to talk and I’m no racism I love all colors but this not right and coach needs to lose his job and never be able to work at school again
The young Man doing the beating just accepted to play for Cambellsville at Harrisburg. They will never do anything to him. My child played on the same team and The young man was a bully to a lot of kids. And it was allowed . Thank God my Child graduated last year. It’s sad but nothing will be done. Maybe when he goes to college he will learn he can’t act that way. Caverna School sure doesn’t teach them better. Coach should be fired .
I blame the parents,also in any bullying situation..they should be held accountable!!!😡
Parents can’t control what a teenager does 24/7. I’m sure you were a teenager at some point. I guess you were a little angel?
Gotta love that superintendent though with her “safety is our top priority” Oh sure, that’s why that staff member was working there IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Players are taught and revere what their coaches tell them. I’d almost bet money this was instigated by the coach.
First up, when your child leaves the house you can’t control what they do. I know for a fact his parents check him when he acts up. Don’t speak too soon, you never know what your kids have done or going to do.
Coach should be fired the student should be ban from playing any sports
Or you can shut your mouth bc Mr.miles is not a bad person
I hope Campbellsville University sees and hears about this and backs out of their agreement with him. I’m an alumni from there.
No student, let alone a student athlete should be allowed to get away with this! They are held at a different standard for good reason!
There should be firing!!!!
That poor child didn’t have wasn’t expecting anything like the beating he took.
Do they realize that they could end up pressing charges and the students helping
God bless you young man.!!?
Superintendent should never have to say it’s hard to fore. me to fire someone. .Well wake up, can you imagine how hard it is for a a student to live in fear !!!
Agreed,this coach should be fired and not work in a school setting again. As for this bully, he shouldn’t be permitted to play sports again. Charges should be pressed against all parties involved. I’m sure this child on the ground,is traumatized. No excuses needed.
That coach his ass needs too be fired and I would like too take that belt and horse whip his ass with it he better be damn glad its not my child!!!!!!
That type of shit has been going on in that school since 2007 teachers turning a blind eye to fights and doing anything to stop bullying they only make it worse and their lack of monitoring students is what caused one kid back around 06-07 to get beat up in the cafeteria by three different students not at the same time I didn’t see a teacher for the whole 15 minutes it happened and when an adult did show up the kids who wiped the boy were back in their seats like nothing happened the whole was beat was slumped over in his seat bleeding a lot
Outrageous for anything like this to happen. If it were my son , we’d be going to war. Hope they get what they deserve. Obviously Caverna school system doesn’t have anything under control. People wonder why we put our kids in home schooling.
I recently viewed a disturbing video reportedly connected to Caverna School. While some may dismiss it as mere “horseplay,” I feel compelled to speak up: what I witnessed appears to involve clear violence, potential abuse, and a shocking lack of adult intervention. The presence of a belt in the incident raises serious red flags.
As a Caverna alumnus, I find this deeply troubling. During my time at the school, such behavior would never have been tolerated, and it pains me to think that current students may be exposed to such an environment. Every workplace I know of in America enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy for horseplay or violence—our schools should be held to even higher standards.
I also recently came across social media posts referencing an investigation at Caverna, though the information was unverified. I’d like to know: Is this incident part of that investigation, or is this a separate issue that’s recently come to light? Compounding my concern is the fact that, not long ago, the school community suffered the tragic loss of a young student. Taken together, these events raise serious questions about the current state of oversight and leadership.
After looking further into the school’s academic performance this morning, I learned that Caverna’s test scores rank among the lowest in the state of Kentucky. It’s hard not to draw a connection between what’s happening on video and the educational outcomes students are experiencing. A school is meant to be a place of learning, growth, and safety—not a Romper Room.
If this message offends anyone, we likely do not share the same values when it comes to protecting our youth. But I know I’m not alone in believing Caverna can—and should—do better.
I respectfully urge the school administration and district leaders to address this issue publicly and transparently. Accountability is owed not only to the students, community and parents, but to every alumni and community member who cares about it.
Respectfully
Todd Esters
So well said
Totally agree with you Todd…sad to see my Alma Mater in this light!
Yes Mr. Esters, I agree with all you expressed and fully support your on target points. What’s very troubling to me at this very moment, is that people jump to accuse “Racism” here. Like many say, if the situation was reversed and it was the white one doing the beating… omg, all Hell would break loose. I love people, as people. Race has Zero to do with people and their ways. That’s a personal issue. How will racism be a thing of the past when it’s constantly used for defense?
There is no excuse for this what’s so ever, I have a grandchild in the caverna school system at the elementary level
The adult coach has had some success at this school but this just wiped out all respect i had for him as an educator or coach and he should be terminated
If the race of these boys had been reversed the whole country would be up in arms over it.
The boys doing the deed should be expelled and removed from any and all sports teams for the remainder of their school experience at caverna
We send the kids for an education not to be thugs
If the kid being whipped was mine, there would be hell to pay for each of the three
Seems to me the people that don’t have criminal records are the real criminals these days! It’s only going to get worse, especially being in a rural state.
Looks racist to me. There is no horseplay there
LET ME SET ONE THING STRAIGHT Mr.miles is not a bad person he is a good guy who helps students all in Caverna this was horseplay ofc but it all was a joke so all y’all negatives comments about him can hush bc mr.miles is wonderful and EVERY student can agree y’all all need to investigate Caverna the whole school there is things that happened that no one wants to talk about that is worse then this is making me mad how yall treat someone js bc of how something y’all see that yal thing is true yall need to grow up and stop treating Mr.miles like he is a bad person and shut down the school itself but if it was a white personal it would be ok it’s crazy how this school it’s a bad school and shouldn’t even be allowed to have students there…